Fellowship of Isis Liturgy by Olivia Robertson
The Druid Clan of Dana
An Clann Draoidheachta Danann
The Rite of Dana. Druid Initiation
An outdoor grove is preferable but a room in a city is accepted. The Grove Goddess may be of any race or tradition. Let there be a Dolmen Altar, a spring or cauldron of water, a bonfire or burning charcoal. Companions wear many-coloured hooded robes, gold lunulae and druidesses carry wands. Druids, staffs. All wear chaplets of leaves. The Triad: Archdruidess, Archdruid and Bard wear three gold bars of light above brow on headdress. Candidate outside Temple is in white. Druidess and Druid on either side.
ArchDruid: Who seeks entry to our Sacred Grove of * * *?
Bard: One who seeks initiation into our Mysteries.
ArchDruid: Let the Candidate undergo three trials.
Bard leads Candidate to a gateway, entrance to labyrinth, Druidess and Druid on either side.
Bard: (to Candidate.) Are you willing to undergo the Initiation of the Morrigan?
Candidate: With the Morrigan’s help I am.
Bard: You must pass through Her magical Dolman, Gateway to the World of the Sidhe.
(Druidess places bridal veil over woman candidate, or Druid (places) a white hood over head and face of man (male candidate) so vision is obscured. Druidess places her hands over Candidate’s head and face so that cold tingling may be felt down spine and violet light seen. Candidate is led through gateway.)
Silence
Bard: The second trial is that of Dana. You must tread Her labyrinth with calm mind and heart. Are you willing?
Candidate: With Dana’s blessing, I am.
(Druidess passes hand over Candidate until power is felt in heart and gold light is seen. Candidate is led through the labyrinth moving alternatively on the serpent paths of Sun and moon on left and righthand path until the centre is reached.)
SILENCE
Bard: You are at the heart of the Labyrinth. Now face your third and final ordeal of Brighid’s Well. Can you face the Goddess Herself?
Candidate: With Brighid’s inspiration, I am willing.
(Candidate is led before small cell before which is a spring or cauldron of water. Druidess anoints Candidate’s brow with water until silver power and light are experienced. Candidate is led into a room and left alone, door shut behind him/her. Candidate faces a Priestess in deep blue veil covering her face and body. She is in trance. Here an Oracle may be bestowed by Goddess of the Grove or Brighid, Dana or the Morrigan. An Oracle of Dana is here presented, given through her Priestess.)
Oracle of the Goddess Dana: "You need to return to your roots in order to grow! It is through love of those living with you that you attain a wider love, and not through spurning your family! It is from your children that you may again learn the language of birds and trees, and through your grandparents that you may hear the music of the spheres! As you develop the magical language of the Angels, you will find your own spiritual family. It comprises humans, Deities, Nature Spirits, animals, trees and stones, not only on this planet but from the stars. Such families are as constellations in the great galaxy. My Tuathe De Danann came from the sky, yet also dwell within the hidden sun at earth’s matrix. The Golden Age shines about you, resplendent in the matriarchal darkness. Naught is alien when all is known and loved. You are kin to all beings in the cosmos and all are kin to Me."
Silence
(Candidate is led from the labyrinth to the Dolmen Altar. Veil or hood is removed.)
ArchDruid: My friend, what did you experience after passing the Dolmen Gateway?
(Candidate gives report)
ArchDruidess: What were your feelings when you trod the Labyrinth?
(Candidate gives report)
Bard: What did you gain from the Oracle?
(Candidate gives report)
ArchDruid: Companions, do you accept this Candidate as Druid/ess of our Grove of * * * in the Druid Clan of Dana?
(Those who agree lift wands or staffs. Acceptance must be unanimous.)
ArchDruid: (to Candidate) We accept you!
Bard: (raises staff in North.) I invoke the Goddess Brighid and the God Lir. May Inspiration and Creativity be bestowed!
ArchDruidess: (raises wand in Northeast.) I invoke the Goddess Dana and the God Manannan. Let love and joy be with us!
Bard: (raises wand/staff in East.) I invoke the Goddess Morrigan and the God Dagda! May we be wise in all magic! (Bard places lunula round Candidate’s neck) In the Name of Brighid, wear this lunula. It is in the shape of the moon and of the metal of the sun. Bring harmony through arts and crafts.
ArchDruidess: (crowns Candidate with chaplet of leaves) In the Name of Dana I crown you! Bring love and happiness to all beings whose lives touch yours.
ArchDruid: (presents wand/staff) In the Name of the Morrigan I present you with this staff. use its magical power with strength and compassion.
Bard: (throws herbal incense on fire.) We offer incense to the Goddess * * *, and Her Consort * * * of this Grove! You are her kin.
Companions embrace new Druid/ess and present tokens as gifts.
Music. A shaman journey or pathworking of the Grove’s tradition may be given: or this Irish Magical Journey be undertaken.
Bard: Companions, who long to travel to the Many-coloured Land, hear how the Fenians of Eire discovered a Hill of the Sidhe! "We hunters roused a beautiful skittish wild fawn at Tory," said Caelte, "and we chased him to the mountains of Aighe, and the fawn went head-first underground there! And a great heavy snow fell, so that it made the crest of the wood into twisted wickerwork. And Finn said to me: ‘Caelte, will you find shelter for us this night from the storm that is here?’ And as I searched around I found a Faery Hill brightly lit! And I spied a doorway in the side of the hill. I made my way into that hill, and I found myself in a mighty Hall! And I seated myself upon a crystal chair. I saw that there were twenty eight warriors on one side of that Hall, and a lovely damsel was beside every man of them. And on the other side of the Hall were six gentle young maidens with woolen cloaks about their shoulders. And a damsel was seated on a throne, and she had a harp in her hand which she was playing sweetly. And I told them all that Finn, son of Cumhall, desired lodging and food for the night in their Hill of the Sidhe. The one of the warriors spoke. He said, ‘Go, Caelte of my soul, and fetch Finn son of Cumhall, for no man was ever turned away from Finn’s door; and so he shall not be turned away from us!’ Then I went forth and brought Finn into the Hill. And all of us spent the night there with merriment, music and friendship!".
ArchDruidess: Companions, let us have the joy of introducing our new Druid’/ess to the Land of Heart’s Desire. Once the path is known it is always open to us. (Music.) Let us through dance create Manannan’s Magic Wheel that travels through time and place! (Spiral Dance in which a shining sphere is created psychically round the company.) We must make a still hub within the wheel that we may travel therein! (Crystal hub is created through dance.) Let us sit in a circle with eyes shut, the better to see with inner vision. Behold, our Guide appears amongst us. She is the lovely Niamh who guided Oisin to Tir na nOg, Land of Immortality. She bears the sign thereof, a silver branch from which hang three melodious golden apples! She moves her hand and the wheel begins to whirl around us, at ever increasing speed * * * We see glorious colours and hear beautiful music. * * * in silence we enter the Land of our Heart’s Desire * * *.
Silence
After about 15 minutes, Bard brings companions back in Manannan’s Wheel now rotating in reverse direction slower and slower. On return to Earth Niamh bids farewell and the wheel is dissolved through dance. Reports are shared and Rays of Love, Joy and Wisdom are sent forth to all Beings. Thanks are given to the Deities. Feast is celebrated in honour of new Druid/ess.
Recommended Reading: "Lebor Gabala Erenn", trans. Macalister, Irish Texts Society. "General History of Ireland", Keating, trans. O’Connor, pub. Duffy. "Myths and Legends of the Celtic Race", Rolleston, Harrap. "A Celtic Miscellany", trans. Hurlestone Jackson, Routledge & Kegan Paul. "The Candle of Vision". "The Avatars", "Song and Its Fountains", AE., MacMillan. "The Crock of Gold", "The Demi-Gods", James Stephens, MacMillan. "Verse Plays", W. B. Yeats.
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